Last updated: 9/28/2013
3190 Lionshead Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92010
Monday - Tuesday, Friday - Saturday
9 AM - 4 PM
Closed Holidays
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Craig Libuse
phone:
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Paul Healey
phone:
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Michael Sheehy
phone:
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Tom Boyer
phone:
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This museum features works that represent the spirit and skill of individuals; not committees or manufacturing companies. These projects were built by people with skilled hands and brains, but, most importantly, they were built for the love of doing it. Coming from the hands, the brain and the heart, they should be judged not just as a collection of parts, but rather as art. Other forms of art, such as dance, painting, music and so on are sufficiently represented elsewhere, so we are concentrating here on small things made by hand by an artisan using the tools of his trade.
The 16,000 square foot museum includes working engines, miniature firearms, model vehicles and aircraft, clocks, tools, dollhouse miniatures, jewelry and sculpture. Over 220 internal combustion engines and over 165 steam and Stirling engines are now on display. A working machines shop on site also allows visitors to see a master machinist in action making parts for our current engine project. Steam and gas engines are run at 10AM, noon and 2PM for visitors.
Our largest collection includes over 140 miniature engines from the Paul Knapp collection on open-ended loan. Current limited time displays include a 1921 Marmon automobile in 1/4 scale made by the Marmon Factory and a 1/192 scale model of the German battleship Bismarck. We currently have one of our aircraft models on loan to the San Diego Air & Space Museum and have in exchange a small Cirrus model aircraft engine on display from their collection.
Conservation; We have an in-house digital photo studio. Our machinst is also responsible for restoring, maintaining and operating the steam and gas engines in our collection.
The on-line version of our museum offers us the chance to honor the work of many craftsmen world-wide without having to possess any more than photographs of their work. We do, however, also maintain a growing collection of actual examples of excellent craftsmanship at our new facility in Carlsbad, California. The Facility includes a museum housing examples of the work of a number of the world's best craftsmen. We also maintain a growing collection of the most significant small machine tools of the past and present. The facility includes a well-equipped shop manned by craftsman Tom Boyer who is on hand to help us run the shop and make it possible for visitors to watch a craftsman at work. This office will also become a gathering place where the best craftsmen can share problems and solutions with others at their high skill level in hopes of advancing the level of work for all. Our book collection covers books on and by some of the best craftsmen and also includes books covering the use, care and history of tools.
Items on display in the museum have been donated by some of the world's finest craftsmen or their families. Young Park's 1/16 scale Corsair was sought by both the San Diego Aerospace Museum and the Smithsonian, but we were fortunate to have Mr. Park donate it to us along with his newly completed P-51 Mustang. Barry Jordan's 1/14 Bridgeport mill is the only example of his world famous work on display in the United States. A donation by the niece of the late Rudy Kouhoupt brought a very large engine collection by one of the most significant model engineers of our time to our facility. World renowned clock maker William R. Smith has donated his gold medal winning Strutt epicyclic train clock. More exhibits are being added all the time. We solicit the donation of any significant items by craftsmen who either have no family to leave their life's work to or simply desire that it go somewhere where it will be properly maintained, displayed and appreciated by others in their field. Now that we have been approved by the IRS as a 509(c)(3) organization, all contributions are tax deductible at full appraised value, which might offer a sizeable tax advantage to a retired craftsman or to his family.
The Craftsmanship Museum first opened in Vista, CA as part of the Sherline tools factory in June, 2006. In February 2011 the museum outgrew that space and moved to its present location in Carlsbad, CA.
Our new building in Carlsbad, CA is located only about 1/2 mile west of our former Vista facility. It is just down the street in the Raceway Industrial Park where the old Carlsbad Raceway drag strip used to be. The new building has over 16,500 square feet, which is over two and a half times the size of our former location in Vista. It opened February 7, 2011, and it houses the new machine shop, display area and foundation offices. All displays are located on the ground floor, offering full handicapped access. If you are interested in being a part of the museum staff as a volunteer, please contact us.
The Paul Knapp Miniature Engine Collection
The Joe and Jan Haring dollhouse and miniatures collection
The Miniature Arms Society--a collection of miniature firearms (until April, 2015.)
Complete library of Model Engineer magazines from 1898 to present, complete collection of Model Engine Builder and Strictly IC magazines, fairly complete collection of other home shop machining magazines like Live Steam, The Home Shop Machinist, Machinist's Workshop and clock collector magazines from the National Assn. of Watch and Clock Collectors.
The museum features a full working machine shop where a machinist can be seen making parts to build small engines. The shop has built two engines so far; a 14cc in-line four cylinder and a 30cc V-4. We will be starting next on a 1/4 scale V-8. The machinist is available for questions on how things are made from metal.
Special Travel Exhibitions are available. We do loan exhibits; Contact Director Craig Libuse at above contact numbers.
Joe Martin Craftsmanship Foundation
Access: General Public
Appointment required: Yes
A quarterly report is sent to the members of the board of directors and board of advisors only.
Groups of 10 or more call to arrange for special tours on Wednesdays or Thursdays
The Joe Martin Foundation’s Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, CA has a large, comfortable conference room that is available for club or group meetings. It can comfortably accommodate 10 people at the large conference table and more in chairs surrounding it. The fee requested for use of the conference room is $50/hour with a 2-hour minimum. Meetings should be scheduled during normal museum operating hours of Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 to 4, but other accommodations can be made mid-week for more private meetings.
The group or club is also welcome to visit the museum before and after the meeting. The facility and restrooms are fully handicapped accessible. Catering is not provided, but can be accommodated if arranged for separately by the renting group.
The museum is conveniently located about 6 miles inland from the coast off Palomar Airport Road in the Carlsbad Raceway Industrial Park.
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
All on ground floor with wheelchair access and approved restroom facilities.
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
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